Garden of the Gods: Motorless Morning

About Motorless Morning

The City of Colorado Springs’ Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department will host the third Motorless Morning in Garden of the Gods Park. The special event will eliminate motor vehicle access within the park from 5 a.m.-noon.

During the event, visitors will be encouraged to park their vehicles at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post (324 Beckers Lane, Manitou Springs) or in the temporary parking lot at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site (corner of N 30th Street and Gateway Road). Persons with Disabilities can park at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center (1805 N 30th Street) and be shuttled into the park. As always, the park will remain free and open to the public, and all park rules and regulations will apply. At noon, the park will reopen to motor vehicles.

Those attending Motorless Morning are encourage to participate in both Earth Day events at the Visitor’s Center and at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.

Motorless Morning was conceptualized from a transportation study designed to enhance the visitor experience and protect the natural elements of Garden of the Gods Park.0. The parks department estimates that 5.8 million people visited Garden of the Gods Park in 2017. Visit ColoradoSprings.gov/GOGTransportationStudy for more information on the study.

FAQ

Q: What are the hours for the Motorless Morning on Saturday, April 20, 2019?A: The event will be held from 5:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Normal traffic patterns will resume immediately following the event.

Q: What is the purpose behind the Motorless Morning event?A: In conjunction with Earth Day, the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department will host a Motorless Morning in Garden of the Gods Park. This event will eliminate motor vehicle access within the park throughout the event to allow park visitors to celebrate Earth Day by enjoying the natural sights and sounds within the park without vehicle noise. Earth Day activities will be occurring as well from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center and at the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.

Q: Is the Motorless Morning event free?A: Yes

Q: Is parking for the Motorless Morning event free and where is parking available?A: Yes, parking for the event is free. During the event, visitors will be encouraged to park their vehicles at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post (324 Beckers Lane, Manitou Springs) or in the temporary parking lot at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site (corner of North 30th Street and Gateway Road). Accessible parking is available in the south lot of the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center.

Q: Are there new ways to access the park?A: Yes, there is a new paved trail from the Gateway Road entrance to the Central Garden zone. Along with being ADA compliant, this beautiful trail provides a more nature-oriented experience as it winds through scrub oak toward the Central Garden Zone.

Q: What accommodations have been made for individuals with disabilities? A: Access to the park is being provided for all, including designated parking for persons with disabilities. All park visitors will have access to accessible routes into and throughout the park. Persons with disabilities can park at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center (1805 N 30th Street) and be shuttled into the park. The on-call shuttle will provide access into the Park by dropping individuals off at the intersection of Gateway Road and Juniper Way. This will provide individuals access into the Central Garden area via an accessible trail. As always, the City will permit the use of other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMD) within the park throughout the event. Click here to view the City’s OPDMD policy. The City will also consider any other reasonable accommodation requests. If you need another accommodation, please contact: adacompliance@coloradosprings.gov or visit https://coloradosprings.gov/office-accessibility/page/office-accessibility

Q: Where can I find additional information regarding park rules and guidelines?A: Per usual, the park will remain free and open to the public, and all park rules and regulations will be in effect. Please refer to the following links for park and trail information:

Q: Will there be emergency access into and egress from the park during the event?A: Yes. All entrances will be closed with staff at each location should there be a need to unlock and open a gate for emergency access during the event.

Q: When will I know the event is over if I am still in the park?A: Park rangers will drive through the park beginning at 11:30 a.m. to announce that vehicles will soon be entering the park.

Q: How can I provide feedback regarding my experience at the Motorless Morning?A: A short survey will be available the day of the event by texting your zip code to 719-249-4839. If you need an accommodation to access the survey, please contact the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department at 719-385-5940 or emailing your request to: prcs@springsgov.com